Improvement in shaft-couplings



1. F. LIGHT.

Shaft-Couplings.

No.l55,837. l l Patented 0ct.13,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. LIGHT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WOOD & LIGHTMACHINE CO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHAFT-COUPLINC-TS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,837, dated October13, 1&74; application tiled July 20, 1874.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. LIGHT, of Worcester, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new Improvement inCoupling for Shafting; and I do hereby declare the following, when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters ofreference marked thereon, to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification,and represent, in-

Figure l, a side view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section, and inFig. 3, a transverse section.

This invention relates to an improvement in a device for couplinglengths of shafting together; and it consists, first, in a pair ofclamps to inclose the meeting-ends of two lengths of shafting, thecoupling constructed with a cavity between the center and each end ofthe coupling, and a corresponding cavity iu each length of shafting, andplacing in the said cavities a ball or block corresponding to the shapeof the cavity, so that, when the coupling is clamped together, the saidballs or blocks will securely unite or couple the two lengths ofshafting.

A is the one part, and B the other part, of the coupling. Each of theparts are semicylindrical, and longitudinally through the center is arecess corresponding to the ends of the shafts to be coupled. In onepart, B, of the coupling (or may be in both) I form a cavity, a, betweenthe center and ends; this, preferably, of a semi-spherical shape. C andD are the meeting-ends of two pieces of shafting to be coupled. In eachof these is formed a cavity, d, corresponding to the cavity a in thecoupling.

Previous to placing the part B upon the shaft, a ball, f, is laid intoeach of the cavities 5 then the two parts of the coupling set in place,the balls entering the corresponding cavity in the two shafts, as seenin Fig. 2. The two parts are then firmly secured together, and the ballsf prevent the movement of either ot' the shafts, except with thecouplingthat is to say, the shafts cannot separate longitudinally, oreither turn with the coupling without the other. y y

While I prefer the ball shape, I donot wish to be understood asconfining myself to this shape, as the other shape blocks will answerthe same purpose; therefore, in the use of the term ball, I wish to beunderstood as embracing any of the shapes that may be substitutedtherefor.

To unite the two parts, and in order not to interfere with thecylindrical form of the two parts, l construct them with cavities E, onesurface of the cavity being substantially parallel to the meeting-facesofthe parts, and the other at substantially right angles thereto, asseenin Fig. 3. Through the meeting-parts screws or bolts L are set, asseen inFig. 3, so that the heads (and nuts, if' they be used,) will bein these cavities, within the circumference. of the coupling, as seen inFig. 3, so that, it' desired, a pulley may be set onto the coupling, orthe coupling itself used as a pulley.

I claim- The herein-described shaft-coupling, consisting of the twoparts A B, in one or both of which cavities a are formed, andcorresponding cavities d in the respective ends otl the shafts to becoupled, combined with the balls f, substantially as set forth.

J osEPH A. -HoWLANn, OTIs WARREN.

